Fluid storage apparatus



W. G. LAIRD FLUID STOAGE APPARATS V'July 22, 1947.

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 22, 1944 fom@ July 22,194? w. G. LAIRD FLUID STORAGE APPARATUS Filed April 22, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wm T5239 g? Patented July 22, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUID STORAGE APPARATUS Wilbur (3i. Laird, Pleasantville, N. Y. Application April 22, 1944, `Serial No. 532,259 16 claims. (c1. is-ive) This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for storing fluids, andmore `particularly to storage containers provided with a vertically movable roof, bell or lift which is stabilizedor guided by cables.

Storage tanks for petroleum oils are now in use which include an annular launder or trough.

on the upper portion ofthe shell in Which a belltype roof or lift seals in a liquid. The .lift .is maintained in its normal horizontal position with respect to thertank as it moves up and dOWIl by means of cables attached inside the tank and lift. Usually the cable arrangement comprises a plurality of sets or pairs of cables distributed around the inside of the tank with the cables of each pair mounted in counteracting relationship to keep opposite sides of the lift at the same level. Cables arranged in this manner tostabilize lifts are shown in Patents Nos. 1,894,536-7 and 2,050,707, which have been granted to the applicant, and in Patents Nos. 2,277,398, 2,280,637 and 2,280,768.

Cables mounted inside a storage container such as a gas holder or a large oil storage tank have certain disadvantages because of their inaccessibility and because in apparatus of large diameter the span across the inside of the tank is Vexcessive. Accessibility to the cables, sheaves and mountings is oi considerable importance in case of cable failure or breakage in the mountings. In the case of a large -oil tank the breaking of a stabilizing cable may put the tank out of service for a considerable time and require a thorough purging before the tank can be entered for repairs.

In apparatus of this type, the cables should be substantially taut, but when a cable must extend across a long span, as is required in tanks of large diameter, the weight of this cable section causes an undue strain, unless supporting means is provided as it crosses the tank. Substantial sag and slack must be avoided or the lift will not be properly stabilized during the heavy -wind or when unevenly loaded with snow, ice, etc. The problems indicated above are not solved by merely placing the cables on the outside of the apparatus. Pease U. S. No. 435,186, granted over fifty years ago, shows outside cables on a gasholder bell, but the cables are carried` down and under, or around, the tank of the holder. A recent Patent No, 2,287,586 shows short cables outside the storage tank and vlift attached to a cable or ring which extends around the tank and therefore creates other problems both in construction and in maintaining proper operation.

The primary object of the present invention is,

to provide an improved storage apparatus for fluids in which a movable roof or lift is stabilized with a stabilizing means arranged to avoidY certain of the difficulties previously encountered.

According to the present invention, the stabilizing means, such as cables, are arranged, for eX- ample, to stabilize a bell-type roof sealing in a launder on the upper portion of a cylindrical shell of a storage tank, the tank being provided with cross tubes below the launder through which the cables extend from one side of the tank to the other. The cables are connected to the outside4 of the roof `and tank and do not come into contact with the stored iluid, but are supported in substantially straight tubes or pipes in spanning the portion of the tank through Which they extend.

`Instead of using cables, other stabilizing means may be operated through and from the cross tubes, and in certain modiiications of the invention the cross tubes need not be below the launder or the lowest point of the roof. Cables, chains, levers, links or equivalent means may be used in combination with more rigid apparatus elements to comprise a stabilizer, a portion of which is mounted in a cross tube or pipe.

Other features, objects and advantages of the improved apparatus will be better understood from the following more detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a broken View partly in vertical section of a storage apparatus for fluids constructed in accordance with and illustrating one form of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a broken horizontal sectional view of a part of the apparatus shown in Fig. l, taken on the line 2-2.

Fig. 3 is a broken View similar to the left portion of Fig. l, showing a modiiied arrangement of the cross tubes in connection with cable stabilizing means.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that of Fig. 3, showinganother modification in Which cables are used in combination with rigid interconnecting means.

Fig. 5 is a broken front elevational view showing a modication of the stabilizing means shown in Fig. 4, in which the cable has been replaced.

vReferring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the apparatus illustrated is of the type used for the storage of petroleum products and comprises an upright cylindrical steel shell lil having a steel bottom l2 (Fig. 2'), the shell being provided with the usual top curb I4. The shell is also provided with a trough or launder t6 for holding a sealing liquid IB. The launder I6 extendsentirely around the upper portion of the shell, the shell serving as the inside Wall of the launder as shown, although the launder may be formed inside the tank Wall if desired. The tank roof comprises a cambered or cone-shaped plate 20 "having a substantially flat section 22 which extendsbeyond the launder I8 and Iwhich may be integral with the roof plate 20 or a continuation. The roof also includes an annular or cylindrical sheet metal curtain wall or apron 24, which is secured to the roof plate 20 in a fluidtight manner, and which seals in the liquid in the launder I6. The roof is also provided with a weather hood 26 attached to the edge of plate 22.

Storage apparatus of the type shown is especially suited for the storage of gasoline and other liquids which tend to evolve gases or vapors. The bell-type lift as shown moves up and down, according to the changes in volume of the liquid or vapor in the container. These changes may be caused by changes in the atmospheric conditions or bythe introduction or withdrawal of the stored material. Containers of this type prevent loss of valuable` volatile constituents whichV would be lost by evaporation if stored in open tanks.

The roof or lift is preferably stabilized or kept in its normal path of motion with respect to the shell I or launder I6 by a stabilizing means such as a plurality of sets or pairs of cables (2, 3, 4 or more pairs) one set or pair of which is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings. For convenience the cables in this form of the invention are arranged or mounted in connection with vertical beams 28 and 30 which are arranged on opposite sides of the apparatus and attached at their upper ends to the roof plate 22 inside the weather hood 26 by welding ory other suitable means. These beams may be of any suitable cross-section but preferably have the channel iron section shown in Fig. 2, that is, a channel section with suitable track ilanges 32. The beams 28 and 30 operate between upper and lower pairs of anged guide rollers 34 and 36 which engage the track anges 32 in the manner shown in Fig. 2. The upper set of rollers are attached to the upper edge oi the launder while the lower rollers are mounted on a pair of brackets 38 which are attached t0 the container shell I0 below the launder I6.

In the cable arrangement as illustrated, a cable 40 of a pair or set has one end attached to the plate 22 at the top of the beam 28 by means of a threaded attachment member 42. The cable 40 extends from the member 42 inside the channel 28 down to and around a sheave 44 which operates on a shaft 46 (Fig. 2) set in the brackets 38. From the sheave 44 the cable 4U runs through the shell I ll and a tube or pipe 48 to the opposite side of the tank where it leaves the pipe 48, passes over a sheave U and down inside the beam 30 to its lower end where it is fastened to an end plate 5I in the end of the beam by means of a threaded member 52. The other cable 54 of the pair shown has an adjustable end attachment member 55 like 42 and 52 and this cable extends from the top of beam down inside the beam, under a sheave 56 (back of the sheave 50 in Fig. l), through the shell I0 and a tube or pipe 58, over a sheave 60 (back of the sheave 44 in Fig. 1) on the shaft 46, then down to the lower end of beam 28 where it is fastened to an end plate 62 by a threaded member 63.

The cables and 54 are adjusted when the lift is level, for example when it is resting in its lower position with the roof plate 20 resting on the usual roof supports (not shown). When the cables are attached in the way shown and described, one side of the lift cannot move up or down unless the opposite side moves in the same direction. For example, if the left side of the roof moves up, the cable 40 must move on the the opposite attachment position without any sheaves 44 and 50 to permit the necessary motion. n

4 Since the cable 40 is attached to the lower end of the beam 30 this beam and also the right side of the roof must also move up correspondingly. And this obviously requires the movement of the cable 54 over the sheaves 56 and 80, giving a parallel motion.

The cables 40 and 54 are arranged to cause equal similar movement of opposite sides of the roof as will be apparent from the showing and the foregoing description.

The storage apparatus of Fig. 1 is provided with at least one other pair of cables and beams (not shown), preferably arranged at right angles to the pair illustrated, so that the roof will be adequately stabilized against tilting. Large containers may reasonably require 3 or 4 or more pairs of such cables distributed, substantially uniformly around its circumference. The pairs of cables and tubes are preferably uniformly spaced and mounted so that they extend through the container at approximately its diameter, but about the same result will be effected if the points of attachment for each pair of cables are a substantial distance apart on the circumference.

The attachment members 42, 52, 55 and 63 may be of any suitable form to permit suitable adjustment and equilization of the tension on the cables. These members may be fastened to the ends of the cables by a thimble or socket connection in the usual manner. Furthermore, the upper ends of the cables may be xed to the respective beams at any point which is always above the level of the sheaves.

The tubes 48 and 58, and similar tubes or pipe used for the other cables, are preferably Welded, rolled or otherwise fastened to the shell I0 in a fluid-tight manner to coincide with holes in the shell through which the cables pass. Where the tubesV or pipes 48 and 58 are of considerable length they may be supported against sagging by attachment to the supporting structure (not shown), which is almost always provided to support the roof when it is down.

The provision of the tubes for the cables in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 gives an arrangement in which the cables are accessible for inspection, repairs, replacement and lubrication, and one in which the cables extend directly across the container from one attachment position to contact with the fluid in the tank or launder. Lubricant for the cables may be placed in the tubes 48, 58y etc., and if desired the ends of the tubes may be provided'with suitable packing around the cables. The use of a separate tube for each cable of each pair is not necessary since the two cables can be run through a single somewhat larger tube by merely vertically off-setting the sheaves of each pair and placing them close together. For example the sheave 68 could be mounted in a position such that the cable 54 on the top thereof would be at the same level as the cable 40 extending through the shell I8 from the sheave 44.

The beams 28, 3D and others are not necessarily essential to the proper functioning of the cable stabilizing arrangement of the present invention, since the same result can be achieved .in the apparatus of Fig. 1 by attaching the lower end of each cable to the bottom of the apron or lift wall 24. In such an arrangement the left end of the cable 54, for example, would pass under the sheave 60, up inside the beam 28, over a sheave at the top of the launder wall I6, and down in the launder to be attached at the bottom asalta-v1A of the lift wal1 2.4. Sheaves above the launder however may reduce the range of .the lift for a given height of wall 24. On the other hand, the

beams of the structure and arrangement shown,

eiiectively shield the cables and sheaves, and provide lateral stabilization for the roof Since the beams move between vertically spaced pairs of rollers 34 .and 36, The beams can be used without the rollers or spools v34 and 36.

While according to a preferred form of the invention as shown in Fig. 1 the cables have their ends fixed or connected te the roof (or to the beams), a moving part of the storage apparatus, the tube arrangement is equally useful if the ends of the cables are fixed in other ways. For example, the ends of the cables may be fixed to the shell I0 and launder It or to otherstationary parts of the apparatus, and the sheaves mounted on the inside of the beams. With almost any type of cable mounting the tubes extending through the container below the lowermost position of the roof provide an eiective and simple arrangement for mounting the cables outside of the con tainer and avoiding many of the disadvantages heretofore encountered.

In the form of the apparatus shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 the same reference characters are used to refer to apparatus elements common with those of Figs. 1 and 2.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 3 is modified from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by moving the cross tubes up and operating cables in the launder liquid which is preferably, as in many cases, a mineral oil of low volatility. In all forms of the apparatus the launder preferably has an angle iron curb 64 (not sho-wn in Fig 1). The apparatus of Fig. 3 is provided with a beam 66 at each cable position, which is attached to the roof 26 and to the inside of the wall or lapron 24, and which extends below the wall 24 as shown. A pocket 6l is provided at each beam position to take care of the beam extension when the roof is in its low position. The beam 66 may be of simple channel cross-section.

In Fig. 3 a cable E8 is attached to the roof 29 by an attachment member lil, and extends Vdownward in the channel beam 65 under a sheave 12 and through a cross tube or pipe 14. An opposing cable 16 is attached to a bottom plate onthe beam ES by an attachment 1B, and extends ullward in the channel beam 66, over a sheave 80 (back of the sheave 12) and through a cross tube or pipe 82. shaft as shown and are mounted in, and the tubes i4 and 82 terminate in a housing 84, which opens into the launder. I6 just below the top of the tank wall lll. This position for the tubes 14 and 82 and the sheaves keeps the sheaves and cables covered in the launder oil which fills the cross tubes. The sheaves in this position do not interfere with the roof coming down to the top of the tank wall lil. The length of the extension of the beam 56 below the wall 24 depends on the position of the sheaves, as will be apparent, in order to get the full rise of the roof.

In Fig. 4 the stabilizing means comprises a plurality of two or more units, a portion (one side) of one of which is shown. It comprises a taut cable 86, one end of which is attached to the roof 2|] by a connector 88. The cable 86 is wrapped around a sheave Si@ several times and the other end is attached to the bottom of the launder wall 24 by a connection 92. Approximately the middle- The sheaves l2 and 80 rotate on a` CIN through the tank wall I0 into the launder I6. The shaft extends through a tube 95, similar to the tubes of Figs. 1 to 3, and its other end mounts a similar unit in the launder on the opposite side of the tank. The ends of the tube 96 are arranged with bearing sections for the shaft 94 as shown at 98, but which need not be tight. Oil from the launder lls the tube 95 and similar tubes.

As the roof in Fig. 4 movesup, the upper part of cable unwraps from sheave 9B and the lower part winds onto the sheave to an equivalent extent asthe sheave 96 and shaft Sli are rotated by the movement.` The cable at the opposite end of the shaft is arranged to move the same as the cable gso that when the shaft rotates, the opposite sides of the roof must move to the same extent and in the same direction. VThe shaft and cable arrangement may be used in various positions including one on top of the tank wall.

A shaft arrangement is also employed with all connections outside the tank, in the apparatus of Fig. 5, in which a shaft |00, mounted in a tube like the tube Q6 (not shown), extends through the shell wall IB below and beyond the launder I6 on opposite sides of the tank. An arm or lever |62 is keyed or otherwise fixed to each end of the shaft outside the tank, both arms |02 being at the same angle or directly opposite each other. Each arm |52 has a slot |64 at the free end which op erates on a pinion |05 on the inside lower end of a beam |83 mounted under the hood 2E and attached thereto and to the plate 22 like the beams 2S and 3i). In Fig. 5 the opposite beams |08 are mounted vertically and may operate between sets of rollers like the rollers 34 and 36 of Fig. l, if desired. The slots |64 permit vertical movement of the beams |38 without rotation of the roof.

In Fig. 5 the roof will be stabilized if two or more shafts mi! and associated elements are distributed around the tank, each shaft extending through a tube parallel to a diameter of the tank. The opposite beams |38 may be on the diameter to 'which the shaft is parallel. Since an arm or lever |02 is xed to each end of the shaft |90, both arms, since they are directly opposite each other, must move together, and the same will be true of the corresponding sides of the roof.

The cross tube and shaft arrangement and modications thereof such as shown and described in connection with Fig. 5 may be placed at different levels in the tank but preferably just below the launder. Instead of using fixed vertical beams |68, each lever |l2 may be pivoted to a link, the other end of which is pivoted to some part of the roof, in which the shaft may then be on a diameter. The cross tubes and shafts can be set to terminate in the lower part of the launder with a fixed lever on each end of each shaft and arranged so that the movable end of each t lever has a horizontal projection or roller which operates in a horizontal channel on the launder wall. Various modifications are possible as will be apparent.

It will be understood that the term cable as used herein in illustrating certain forms of the invention, and in some of the claims, is intended t0 include ropes, chains, flexible bands, or any other equivalent member or combination of mem` bers that meet the requirements of exibility where needed. The cables in certain forms of the invention may run up outside the weather hood although that is not necessary since this hoo-d is not an essential part of the lift or roof. The weather hood (where used) is usually bolted on, especially the sections opposite the stabilizing means, and therefore the cables or other stabilizing means are accessible and outside the tank and roof even if portions of them are covered by the weather hood. The roof may be sealed with respect to the container wall by other means than a liquid seal, as for example by a flexible gasproof fabric seal secured to the container wall and the outer portion of the roof or to a hood or apron like the elements 24 and 26,

The cross tubes electively keep the cables and other stabilizing means out of the tank and lift, particularly in the preferred forms of the invention where the cross tubes are below the lift or launder. These cross tubes also provide for accessibility to the stabilizing means Without unsealing or opening the tank or lift.

Having described the invention in its preferred form, what is claimed as new is:

l. In a storage apparatus for iiuids including an upright cylindrical container provided with a vertically movable belletype roof sealed with respect to the upper portion of the container wall, a plurality of cross-tubes each extending across the container and opening at each end through the container wall and being joined thereto by means of iiuid-tight joints, a stabilizing means on the outside of the container for maintaining the roof in a substantially horizontal position including a substantially vertical beam adjacent the end of each tube with its upper end fixed to the lift outside the container and extending down the side of the container, a movable member extending through each of said tubes, and means associated with and for operatively connecting said movable members to said beams, said stabilizing means being arranged to keep the roof in its normal path of movement with respect to the container.

2. I n a storage apparatus for iiuids including an upright cylindrical container provided with a bell-type vertically movable lift sealed with respect to the container wall, a plurality of crosstubes each extending across the container and opening at each end through the container Wall land being joined thereto by means of fluid-tight joints, a vertically mounted beam having its upper end iixed to the lift and extending down outside the container at the positions of all tube ends, said beams extending substantially below the tube ends, a pair of flexible cables each extending through a tube at each of said positions, each pair of cables being arranged so that one of the cables applies la, down-tension on the lift and the beam at one tube-end position and an up-tension on the lift and the beam from the lower portion of the beam at the opposite tube end position while the other cable applies an -up-tension on the lift from the lower end of the beam lat the said one tube-end position and a down tension on the lift and beam at said opposite tube-end position.

3. In a storage apparatus for fluids including an upright cylindrical container and la bell-type lift sealed with respect to the container wall and serving as a roof for said container, a plurality of pairs of vertically mounted beams attached to said lift at distributed positions around the outside of said container with the beams of each pair opposite each other, said beams extending substantially below the lift, a tube extending across said container between the beams of each pair, said tubes opening through the Wall of said container adjacent the beams, fluid-tight joints between the tubes and the wall of the container, and a cable operatively connected to the lift at the position of each beam of each pair, said cable extending down along the beam then under a fixed sheave near the end of the tube thereat,

'through said tube and over another fixed sheave and then down to the lower portion of the opposite beam where it is fastened.

4. In a variable volume storage appanatus for fluids including a Vertical cylindrical container and a vertically movable roof mounted over the top of the container Iand sealed thereto with a gas-tight sealing means, a plurality of crosstubes each extending across the container and opening at each end through the container wall and being joined thereto by means of fluid-tight joints, the tubes being adapted to provide conduits through the container for carrying movable members of a roof stabilizing means, and a roof stabilizing means for maintaining the roof in a substantially horizontal position as it moves vertically in response to changes in fluid volume in the apparatus, the stabilizing means including a movable member in each tube extending across through the container adapted to move with the roof, and connecting mechanism associated with said movable members and the roof.

5. In a variable volume storage apparatus for iiuids` including an upright cylindrical container and a vertically movable roof mounted at the upper portion of the container wall and sealed thereto with a gas-tight sealing means, a plurality of cross-tubes each extending across the container and opening at each end through the container wall and being joined thereto by means of fluid-tight joints, a stabilizing means on the outside of the container for maintaining the roof in a substantially horizontal position as it moves vertically in response to changes in fluid volume in the apparatus including a substantially vertical beam adjacent the end of each tube with its upper end fixed to the roof outside the container and extending down the side thereof to a point substantially below the tubes when the roof is down, a movable cable member extending through each of said tubes operatively connected to the lower portion of a beam, and means cooperating with the cable members and beams to keep the roof in its normal path of movement with respect to the container.

6. In a storage apparatus as defined by claim l in which each beam shields the movlable member associated therewith.

7. In a storage apparatus as defined by claim 1 in which each movable member is a cable, one end of which applies a down-tension on the lift at one point and lifting force through a beam at another point.

8. In a storage apparatus as defined by claim 1 in which each beam is la channel beam with the channel facing the container.

9. In a storage apparatus for fluids including an upright cylindrical container provided with a bell-type lift sealing in la launder on the upper portion of the container wall, tubes extending across through the container below the launder, both ends of each tube opening through the container wall and being joined thereto by means of fluid-tight joints, the tubes being arranged so that the tube ends are distributed around the circumference of the container, a vertical beam facing each tube end and having one end xed to the lift outside the container, a cable extending through each tube then under a sheave on a xed part of the apparatus near one tube end and up to a connection to the lift, the cable at the other end of the tube extending over a sheave on a fixed part of the apparatus and down to a point of attachment on the adjacent beam.

10. In a storage apparatus for uids including an upright cylindrical container and a vertically movable roof sealed with respect to the upper portion of the container wall, a stabilizing means comprising a plurality of cross tubes each extending across the container and opening at each end through the container wall and being joined thereto by means of fluid-tight joints, said tubes being located below the lowermost position of said roof, a movable cable length extending through each of said tubes, and means associated with said cables for maintaining the roof in a substantially horizontal position.

11. In la, storage apparatus for uids including an upright cylindrical container and a vertically movable roof sealed with respect to the upper portions of the container wall and adapted to hold gases, a plurality of substantially straight cross tubes in said container all extending across the container at about the same level and opening at each end through the side wall of the container, and being joined thereto by means of fluid-tight joints, a stabilizing means for the roof including a, movable member extending through each of said tubes, and means associated with said movable members and the roof for maintaining the roof in a substantially horizontal position as it moves up and down.

12. In a storage apparatus for iluids including an upright cylindrical container and a vertically movable expansion roof sealed with respect to the container for making said container uidtight, a plurality of cross tubes each extending across said container and opening at each end through the container wall and being joined thereto by means of duid-tight joints, a cable extending through each of said tubes, said cables being operatively connected to the roof at spaced points therearound, and means associated with the cables for maintaining the roof in a substantially horizontal position.

13. In a storage apparatus for fluids including an upright cylindrical container and vertically movable expansion roof sealed with respect to the container Wall for making the container fluidtight, a plurality of cross tubes extending across said container with their ends opening through the Wall thereof and joined thereto by means of fluid-tight joints, a stabilizing means for the roof comprising a movable member extending through each of said tubes, means connecting the movable member with the roof from the position of each tube, and means associated with said members and said connecting means for keeping said roof in a substantially horizontal position as it moves up and down with respect to said container.

14. In a storage apparatus for fluids including an upright cylindrical container and a vertically movable roof adapted to hold gases, a plurality of tubes extending substantially horizontally across the container, the ends of the tubes being` open through the container wall and distributed around the circumference thereof, iluid-tight joints between the ends of the tubes and the container wall to prevent access thereto of the stored fluids, the ends of each tube being spaced a substantial distance apart at the circumference of the container, and a stabilizing means attached to the roof at distributed points therearound for keeping the roof in a substantially horizontal position, said stabilizing means including a movable member extending through each of said tubes, and means associated with said movable members for maintaining the roof in a substantially horizontal position.

15. In a storage apparatus for fluids including an upright cylindrical container and a vertically movable roof sealed gas-tight With respect to the upper portion of the container wall, a plurality of cross tubes each extending across the container and opening at each end through the container wall at substantially spaced points and being joined thereto by means of fluid-tight joints, a stabilising mechanism for the roof comprising a, movable member extending through each of said tubes, and means associated with said movable members for maintaining the roof in a substantially horizontal position.

16. In a storage apparatus for fluids including an upright cylindrical container, a vertically movable roof sealed with respect to the upper portion of the container by a gas-tight seal, and a stabilizing mechanism for the roof, the irnprovement comprising a plurality of cross tubes each extending across the container and opening |at each end through the container wall and being joined thereto by means of fluid-tight joints, said tubes being located at about the same level in the container, a portion of the stabilizing mechanism extending through each of said tubes and adapted to move therein las the roof moves, and means associated with said movable portions of the mechanism extending through said tubes for maintaining the roof in a substantially horizontal position.

WILBUR G. LAIRD. 

